Inland Fisheries Ireland ( IFI ) has recorded the capture and tagging of the first Atlantic bluefin tuna for 2024, marking the beginning of a critical scientific programme aimed at tracking the migratory patterns of these giant fish.
Donegal Bay
The inaugural tuna, measuring an impressive 1.68 metres, was caught, measured, tagged, and released in Donegal Bay.
This event kicks off a significant data collection period as Atlantic bluefin tuna migrate to Ireland’s feeding waters in large numbers during the summer.
381 Atlantic bluefin tuna
In 2023, a total of 381 Atlantic bluefin tuna were tagged by authorised skippers in Irish waters, providing a wealth of data for ongoing research
Migration patterns
Dr. William Roche of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) explained the migration patterns: “Typically in summer, Atlantic bluefin tuna migrate to their feeding waters in Ireland in large numbers.
This provides an excellent opportunity to tag tuna and collect data on when they appear in Irish waters, where they go, and what size they are.
Any recaptures of tagged tuna will provide high-quality information on their wider migrations around the Atlantic Ocean, or the Mediterranean Sea, or further afield.”
Skipper Adrian Molloy
To ensure the welfare of the fish, captured bluefin tuna are kept in the water alongside boats, which move slowly at speeds of 2-3 knots to maintain the fish in the best possible condition for release. The average Atlantic bluefin tuna in Irish waters measures about 2 metres in length but can exceed 4 metres and weigh more than 600 kilograms.
Skipper Adrian Molloy made headlines by catching and releasing the first bluefin of the season on Monday, 29 July, and landing a second on the following day. The 2024 Tuna CHART programme will continue until 12 November.
Source: Press Release
